Combined napkin ring and holder.



No. 663,257. v Patented Dec. 4', 1900. c. F.BB0WN & J; J. CALHOUN.COMBINED NAPKIN mus AND HOLDER.

, (Applicatipn filed Sept. 18, 1900 (No Model.)

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*ITED STATES PATnr Fries,

OHARL IS F. BROWN AND JOHN J. CALHOUN, OF RUMFORD FALLS, MAINE.

COMBINED NAPKIN RING AND HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,257, dated December4, 1900.

Application filed September l3I 1900. sen'n No. 29,945- (No model) Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES F. BROWN and JOHN J. CALHOUN, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Rumford Falls, in the county of Oxfordand State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Napkin Ring andHolder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in a combined napkin ring and holder;and the object of the invention is to produce a device of this characterwhich will afford a simple and convenient means for suspending a napkinin proper position in front of the user and also serve as a flexibleband or ring to keep said napkin folded or rolled when it is not in use,the said device presenting a name-plate upon which may be engraved thename of the owner or user thereof.

With the above objects in view the invention consists of a flexible bandor chain comprising several slotted plates connected by to lettersthereon, which designate the dilfen.

out parts, the novel features of construction and combination of partsbeing specifically set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a combined napkin ring andholder constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is an edgeview. Fig. 3 is a detail'sectional View of the hook. Fig. 4 is an endView of said hook. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the plate which forms onepart of the catch.

Referring to said drawings, A designates the flexible band, which ismade up of a number of plates connected together by links a ct, disposednear the ends of said plates, the end plates at and a of the bandcarrying the hook and catch,respectively,hereinafter described,

while the central plate a is wider than the others to form a name-plate.

The hook B is formed integrally with the endplate CL/ of the flexibleband, being preferably curved, as shown, and provided with a Wide billfor the purpose hereinafter explained. The base of the loop portion ofthe hook B is provided with openings Z7 and b, forming a' cross-bar 19with which the catch is adapted to engage, and each intermediate plateof the band is also provided with openings presenting cross-bars for thesame purpose.

C designates the catch, which is located at the other end of theflexible band and consists of the upper and lower jaws c and 0,respectively, which jaws are closed by a helical spring D, held inengagement therewith by bent fingers c and having projecting ends d d,which exert a pressure against the .inner portions of said jaws. Theouter ends of the jaws are bent inward toward each other to close uponthe cross-bars, hereinbefore referred'to. The lower jaw c of the catchis an integral part of the end plate a of the flexible band, and theupper jaw is held in engage ment therewith by the spring D, as hereinshown.

In using the device as a napkin-holder the napkin is unfolded and an endof the. same is placed in engagement with the catch G of the flexibleband,and then the flexible band and napkin carried thereby are supportedin front of the user by placing the hook B in engagement with his collaror neckband, the bill of the book being so shaped as not to cause anyannoyance. The device thereby forms a flexible suspending means forsupporting the napkin and will not' interfere with the handling of thenapkin in Wiping the fingers and month.

In using the device as a napkin-ring the napkin is folded or rolled andthe flexible band bound around the same and held by causing theengagement of the catch with the cross-bar of the hook, and if thenapkin is very small the said catch may be placed in engagement with oneof the intermediate plates. It will be noted that when the band isplaced around the napkin the hook projects and forms practicallya handleand also a means for suspending the folded or rolled napkin from a rack.

The device forms a very simple and convenient means for holding a napkinwhen in use and not in use and is of such construc tion that it can bemade neat and ornamental in appearance, as the parts may be all composedof fine metal and finished in any desired style, the central plate beingpreferably finished to leave a space upon which a name or initials maybe engraved. It will be understood, however, that the shape of theparts, particularly the plates forming the chain, may be'changed to bemore ornamental and that a difierent style of catch could be employed,and we do not therefore wish to be limited to what we have hereinprecisely shown and described, reserving the right to make suchmodifications or changes as may be within the spirit and scope of ourclaims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent, is

1. Acombined napkin ringand holder,com-

prisinga flexible band composed of connected plates, a hook at one endof said band provided with openings forming a cross-bar, and aspring-catch at the other end of said band, substantially as shown andfor the purpose set forth.

3. Acombined napkin ring and holder,comprising a flexible band composedof plates connected by links, the central plate being wider than thebthers to form a name-plate, a hook at one end of said band providedwith openings forming a cross-bar, and a spring-catch at the other endof said band, substantially as shown and described.

4. Acombined napkin ringand holder,con1- prisinga flexible band composedof plates connected by links, the central plate being wider than theother to form a name-plate and the intermediate plates being slotted, ahook at one end of said band providedwith openings forming a crossbar,and a spring-catch at the other end of said band, one member of saidcatch heingan integral part of the end plate of the flexible band,substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

Rumford Falls, Maine, June 22, 1900.

. CHARLES F. BROWN.

JOHN J. CALHOUN. In presence of G. WILLARD JOHNSON,

BURT. L. RoUNDs.

